Engine control apparatus

Abstract

A shift drive unit includes a shift drive gear, and a shift arm which meshes with the shift drive gear. A throttle drive unit includes a throttle drive gear, a slide member, and a throttle arm. When a control lever is pivoted in a shift operation range, rotation of the shift drive gear is transmitted to the shift arm. When the control lever is pivoted in a throttle operation range, rotation of the throttle drive gear is transmitted to the throttle arm via the slide member, and a throttle cable is thereby operated. A friction mechanism includes a brake shoe and a disc spring unit. When the control lever is pivoted in the throttle operation range, the brake shoe contacts a brake portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An engine control apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 a drive shaft provided rotatably in the housing; 
 a control lever mounted on the drive shaft, and configured to be pivoted over a forward shift operation range, a forward throttle operation range, a reverse shift operation range, and a reverse throttle operation range with a neutral position in between forward and reverse; 
 a shift drive unit configured to move a shift cable to a forward position when the control lever is moved to the forward shift operation range from the neutral position, and to move the shift cable to a reverse position when the control lever is moved to the reverse shift operation range from the neutral position; 
 a throttle drive unit configured to transmit pivoting of the control lever to a throttle cable in a state where the control lever is moved to one of the forward throttle operation range and the reverse throttle operation range; and 
 a friction mechanism configured to apply friction to the pivoting of the control lever in a state where the control lever is moved to one of the forward throttle operation range and the reverse throttle operation range, 
 the shift drive unit comprising: 
 a shift drive gear including a driving side gear portion which rotates together with the drive shaft; and 
 a shift arm including a driven side gear portion which transmits pivoting of the shift drive gear by meshing with the driving side gear portion when the control lever is in one of the forward shift operation range and the reverse shift operation range, the shift arm being in a stopped state when the control lever pivots in either of the throttle operation ranges, 
 the throttle drive unit comprising: 
 a throttle drive gear configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction from an initial position; 
 a slide member comprising a first rack gear which meshes with the throttle drive gear when the control lever is in the forward throttle operation range, and a second rack gear which meshes with the throttle drive gear when the control lever is in the reverse throttle operation range, and configured to move by the pivoting of the throttle drive gear; and 
 a throttle arm connected to the slide member. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the friction mechanism comprises:
 a brake portion provided in the shift drive gear and configured to rotate together with the shift drive gear; 
 a brake shoe arranged to be opposed to the brake portion; 
 a spring member which urges the brake shoe toward the brake portion; and 
 supporting means for supporting the brake shoe when the control lever is in one of the forward shift operation range and the reverse shift operation range, and 
 the brake portion comprises: 
 a non-friction surface which is separated from the brake shoe while the brake shoe is being supported by the supporting means when the control lever is moved to one the forward shift operation range and the reverse shift operation range from the neutral position; and 
 a friction surface which contacts the brake shoe in a state where the control lever is pivoted to one of the forward throttle operation range and the reverse throttle operation range. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the spring member comprises a disc spring unit formed by stacking a plurality of disc springs so that they are arranged in series. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an adjuster screw configured to adjust an amount of deflection of the disc spring unit. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the throttle drive unit comprises a stopper pin provided in the slide member, and supporting portions which prevent movement of the slide member by engaging with the stopper pin when the control lever is moved to one of the forward shift operation range and the reverse shift operation range from the neutral position, and allow movement of the slide member as they are released from the stopper pin in a state where the throttle drive gear is rotated by a predetermined amount in one of the first direction and the second direction from the initial position.